Copyright Greekcitytimes 2023 All Rights Reserved. Kathleen Martinez, a former criminal lawyer from the Dominican Republic, is perhaps not the likeliest archaeologist, but she is determined to uncover an ancient mystery that has stymied the archaeological world: the location of Cleopatra's tomb. [13], In 2016, this was supplemented by a GPR surveyor using more powerful radar to detect new chambers and follow the extent of the tunnels already discovered, potentially speeding up excavation work. "Since I was a kid, I dreamed of being face to face [with] Queen Cleopatra," Martinez says. The mission is attempting to uncover a portion of the Temple of Taposiris Magnas foundations that have been revealed by numerous pieces of archeological evidence. As CNN translates, the message concerned an ancient tunnel, almost a mile long, discovered near Egypt's Mediterranean coastline. By 2002, Dr. Martnez's house was "covered with maps" (per Wharton). Born and raised in the Dominican Republic, her family's library was the largest private book collection in the Caribbean. "I imagined going down inside narrow tunnels to her hidden tomb to find two [sarcophagi]: Cleopatra's and Mark Antony's.". Other problems, less theoretical, awaited her in Egypt: endless visa complications, hostile customs agents, a brief arrest. Martinez told CNN that she admires Cleopatra as a student, linguist, mother, and philosopher, and she considers the Egyptian queen to be somewhat misunderstood. She studied she explains the canonical texts in detail, in particular Plutarch's account of Mark Antony's alliance with Cleopatra. Though she ruled thousands of years in the past, Martinez says Cleopatra still matters today. See today's front and back pages, download the newspaper, order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive. Cleopatra took her own life after the Romans captured Egypt in 30 BC. She believes the royal's final resting place was in Taposiris Magna, a sprawling temple of about seven square kilometres located some 50km west of the Mediterranean city of Alexandria. A form of punishment or possibly disease? "She outsmarted the many historians and archaeologists who have looked for her for centuries. Archaeologists are yet to find the resting place of Cleopatra, but on the hunt there have been some beautifulpuzzle pieces unearthed. Katie . She has made. Besides the scientific value of finding it, can you imagine what it will do to tourism in Egypt?. Dr. Martnezherself (above) has a fascinating story. The ancient civilization of Greece is a historical period that has long been a subject of fascination and intrigue. The excavations so far have revealed that "the temple was dedicated to Isis" -- which Martinez believes is another sign that the lost tomb lies nearby -- as well as the tunnels below the sea. Step into the past and uncover the mysteries of Micronesias Nan Madol, one of the most ancient and enigmatic lost cities in the world. She also found that modern researchers had quite possibly missed important clues about where she was buried. Source: Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. Archaeologists suspect that those natural disasters caused the temple to collapse. Martinez's success in obtaining these antiquities on display in Egypt and the US. Privacy Statement It is impossible to date these relics to a particular year. Nathan Falde graduated from American Public University in 2010 with a Bachelors Degree in History, and has a long-standing fascination with ancient history, historical mysteries, mythology, astronomy and esoteric topics of all types. This Is the Stranger-than-Fiction Story of the Dominican Archaeologist Who May Find Cleopatra's Tomb. Later, she earned a master's degree in finance, and then a master's in archaeology. He is a full-time freelance writer from Read More. "Suppose the mausoleum is not lost under the Mediterranean Sea. Dr Kathleen Martinez has spent years trying to find Cleopatra's tomb and she is convinced it lies 30 miles outside of the city in the ancient temple site of Taposiris Magna. It is a priority for CBC to create products that are accessible to all in Canada including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges. ( Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities ). Top image: The mummy with the golden tongue and other recent finds from the Taposiris Magna site. Work began in 2004. We seek to retell the story of our beginnings. If that happens, it would represent the perfect capstone to the career of a true pioneer in her field. But how is it possible that the most famous woman of the ancient world remains missing today? Trump motion to declare mistrial in E. Jean Carroll lawsuit denied, Tornado hits Virginia Beach, likely damaging hundreds of homes, Transgender Montana lawmaker Zooey Zephyr sues over censure, Debt ceiling standoff heats up over veterans' programs, Texas man who lost wife and son in shooting shares story, NYPD officer Troy Patterson dies 33 years after being shot in robbery, Supreme Court to hear case that could curb power of federal agencies, The weirdest items passengers leave behind in Ubers. Kathleen Martinez, an archaeologist with the University of Santo Domingo, located the 6.5-foot-tall, 4,300-foot-long tunnel roughly 43 feet underground at the temple, which is situated west of. Cleopatra may have buried her husband in the temple to fulfill the myth, Martinez told CNN. Theyre not to be discounted and her theory could prove correct. During recent explorations at an ancient Egyptian temple near Alexandria, archaeologists found something startling and unique. Exploring these underwater structures will be the next stage of her search for the Egyptian queen's lost tomb -- a journey that began in 2005. According to the discoveries made so far, King Ptolemy IV, who reigned from 221 BC to 204 BC, constructed the temple in Alexandria. But Dr.Martnez made clear that the greatest prize of all will be Cleopatra's tomb. This glittering discovery was made by a joint team of archaeologists from the Dominican Republic and Egypt, headed by trailblazing archaeologist Kathleen Martinez. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. ( Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities ). "The excavation revealed a huge religious center with three sanctuaries, a sacred lake, more than 1,500 objects, busts, statues, golden pieces, a huge collection of coins portraying Alexander the Great, Queen Cleopatra and the Ptolemies," Martinez told CNN. Related Article: Ancient Luxor Garbage Dump Yield Offerings Inside Temple Dedicated to Hathor; Artifacts Found Related to Ancient Egyptian Love, Fertility The tunnel seems to have been the artery of a major temple complex, and may lead to the long-lost tomb of Egypt's most celebrated queen, Cleopatra. Greg Cannella is a social media producer and trending content writer for CBS News. The mummies were depicted in different forms: one of them was wearing a crown, decorated with horns, and the cobra snake at the forehead and the other was depicted with gilded decorations representing the wide necklace. Against all odds, Martinez wangled a two-month permit to explore several temples that were normally not open to independent researchers. The series said: Before Kathleen could start her investigation at Taposiris Magna, she had to apply to the Egyptian authorities for permission to dig. Dr. Kathleen Martinez believes the most important discovery has been the preserved scrolls and funeral mask of two mummies found in the dig, according to the statement. In archaeology, two months is nothing, she said in a 2016 interview with the New York City-based news agency DNAinfo. But there is no disputing the enormity of Martinezs accomplishments in the nearly two decades she has spent exploring the Taposiris Magna site. 2022 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. [9][10][11], In 2008, ground-penetrating radar (GPR) was used to facilitate the search. Dominican archaeologist, diplomat, and lawyer, Universidad Nacional Pedro Henrquez Urea, "Adventures in Archaeology: Kathleen Martinez Berry's Quest to Find Cleopatra", Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, "Former lawyer discovers likely tomb of Cleopatra", "Mummy with a gold tongue found in Egypt", "Ancient mummies with golden tongues unearthed in Egypt", "Archaeologists Find Mummies With Golden Tongues", "Dominicana seguir tras las tumbas de Cleopatra y Marco Antonio", "Where is the tomb of the last queen of Egypt, Cleopatra and her husband, Mark Antony? While academics dont dismiss the possibility that she and Mark Antony might be interred in the temple at Taposiris Magna, there is no actual evidence that suggests she is. [17], The most significant piece is the so-called "great stele", with a decree from Pharaoh Ptolemy V revealing the date of the temple's construction to be between 221 and 203 BCE, and demonstrating, according to Martnez, the importance of said religious construction dedicated to the goddess Isis.[18]. It stretches over 4,300 feet and is carved in a rock 42 feet below the ground in the area of the Temple of Tapozeris Magna, which is located west of the city of Alexandria, the ministry said. Kathleen Teresa Martnez Berry (born 1966) is a Dominican lawyer, archaeologist, and diplomat, best known for her work since 2005 in the search for the tomb of Cleopatra in the Taposiris Magna temple in Egypt. [3] She graduated at 19,[4] and began working as a lawyer. "Every day I got more and more interested in this woman," Dr. Martneztold Wharton. Her project was approved a year later. "The most interesting discovery is the complex of tunnels leading to the Mediterranean Sea and sunken structures," she added. Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday. The discoveries made during that time have made her more and more certain that she is close to the long-lost tomb of Cleopatra VII and her lover Mark Antony . A hieroglyphic and Demotic stele has also been located, indicating that the temple was considered holy ground. But it was worth it. Cleopatra may have buried her husband in the temple to fulfill the myth, Martinez told CNN. 2023 Smithsonian Magazine The team of Egyptian archaeologists and Bedouin helpers, led by Ms Martinez have discovered coins that bear the images of Cleopatra and Mark Antony. Despite having no field experience, she left a 20-year law career behind in order to undertake an Egyptian expedition . When she arrived at Taposiris Magna she understood, she explains, that it was the place she was looking for. It remains to be seen if Martinez will ever find the burial place of Cleopatra. Kathleen Martinez, an archaeologist at the University of Santo Domingo, has uncovered a tunnel in Northern Egypt that she believes may lead to Cleopatra's final resting place. She heads the Egyptian-Dominican mission in Alexandria, and is currently minister counselor in charge of cultural affairs at the Dominican embassy in Egypt. During more than 100 years of excavations, busts and coins with the face of Cleopatra have also been found. The mummy with the golden tongue was highly unusual, but it is only one of the fascinating relics that have been found in the 16 new burial shafts recently discovered by Kathleen Martinez and her Dominican-Egyptian team. Valley of Kings refers to a site in southern Egypt where the tombs of many pharaohs, including King Tut, are located. She began studying this enigmatic queen on her own, eventually giving up a plan for a master's degree in finance and planning instead for an M.A. Archeologists described the tunnel a "geometric miracle," according to a news release from the ministry. She was given just two months to prove she was on to something she mounted a site survey and started her dig. Her hopes are high that Cleopatra's tomb is just around the corner with all the puzzle pieces falling into place. But, shes a trailblazer and Im very proud of her for not taking no for an answer and plowing ahead. Kathleen Martinez is a former criminal lawyer from the Dominican Republic who is now determined to find the Egyptian queen's lost tomb. Cleopatra’s tomb Kathleen Martinez update Although Kathleen Martinez, a former criminal defense attorney from the Dominican Republic, may not seem like the most likely candidate to become an archaeologist, she is eager to solve an During previous excavations at the site, archaeologists found a variety of other artifacts, including coins featuring the names and images of Cleopatra VII andAlexander the Great. The tunnel was carved into the rock and is two meters high and 13 meters underground, according to a statement released on Thursday by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. She was highly educated and sophisticated, says Okasha El Daly, honorary senior research associate at University College London. If the tunnels lead to Cleopatra, "it will be the most important discovery of the century," she said. Thispoor person not only had their tongue removed, andall of their upper teeth. Who Is Kathleen Martnez, The Woman Who's Led The Search For Cleopatra For Almost 20 Years. 'Cleopatra outsmarted everyone,' says archeologist who has devoted her life to finding the ancient queen | CBC Documentaries Loaded, Kathleen Martinez tells us of her search for Cleopatra and why her legacy is still important today. One of the more remarkable finds was a female mummy that was enclosed in a full body death mask . "Every year revealed a piece of the puzzle that I am putting together.". Encontrar la tumba de Cleopatra sera el descubrimiento del siglo. Kathleen Martnez herself financed the first expedition and many others. Although the triumphant Romans plundered her legacy and life story, Martinez says Cleopatra was determined they would never find her tomb. Cleopatra, the last pharaoh of Egypt, is one of the most iconic figures in history. ". The parallel was stunning. A discovery means a massive archaeological undertaking of cataloguing the tomb and its treasures, excavation and restoration, moving artifacts safely and interpreting the historical meaning behind its contents. She said: If we can discover the tomb of Cleopatra or any one of her Ptolemaic predecessors, Taposiris Magna could be the Greek version of the Valley of the Kings.. "My perseverance cannot be confused with obsession. Martinez has devoted nearly two decades of her life to perhaps the greatest mystery of all: Cleopatra's tomb has never been found. The temple at Taposiris Magna that contained the mummy was dedicated to Osiris, the ancient Egyptian Lord of the Underworld, who was worshipped by Greek leaders in Egypt who honored the old traditions. Yet not a single Ptolemaic pharaoh's tomb has been found. The series went on to speculate over the chambers potential use and how it was vital to continuing the search for the lost queen. How much money is Kathleen Martnez making on Youtube? [2], Despite her childhood passion for Egypt, Martnez focused her early studies on a legal career. Taposiris Magna, a semi-destroyed temple located on the edge of Lake Mariout in Borg El Arab, about 50 kilometers west of Alexandria, was the site Martnez selected. She came to search for the location of Cleopatras lost burial place, which she believes will be found not inside a tomb, but in a burial shaft in a temple dedicated to Osiris and/or Isis, who are perhaps the most well-known of all the ancient Egyptian gods. On her initial visit to Egypt, Martinez managed to secure an appointment to see the Egyptian Minister of Antiquities, the celebrated Egyptologist Dr. Zahi Hawass . "Even though Cleopatra was a Roman prisoner by the time of her suicide, she disappeared from captivity. Researchers have been digging near the Taposiris Magna Temple in hopes of finding Cleopatras long-lost tomb. A series of clues led Martinez to believe Cleopatra's tomb might be located in the Temple of Osiris in the ruined city of Taposiris Magna, on Egypt's northern coast, where the Nile River meets the Mediterranean. Her initial hypothesis was that since Cleopatra was considered the representation of Isis, if she had had to search for a place to be buried in her last days, she would have chosen a temple dedicated to the goddess. AtAncient Origins, we believe that one of the most important fields of knowledge we can pursue as human beings is our beginnings. Copyright Greek city times 2023 All Rights Reserved. 85K Followers, 57 Following, 42 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Dr. Kathleen Martinez (@drkathleenmartinez) Martinez's team has been digging for 14 years. And after years of searching, Martinez feels she is getting close. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express. Watch Searching for Cleopatra on The Nature of Things. Most of these artefacts have gone on display in high-profile exhibitions both in Egypt and the US. The knocked out lower teeth are seen in the photo to the right of the golden tongue. She has made several previous discoveries in her search for the tomb of Queen Cleopatra. She also set a precedent for powerful women, Martinez adds. If the tomb is found, "the history of the famous Cleopatra would change forever. Two millennia after Cleopatra died, it's unclear where the remains of the queen and Mark Antony are buried. Martinez first began searching for Cleopatra's lost tomb in 2005. Archaeologists have traditionally searched for evidence close to the centre of Alexandria, where she was born and ruled, with many believing all evidence may have been destroyed by a powerful earthquake that struck the coast of Greece in 365AD. Dr Martinez detailed her stunning breakthrough in the documentary. Excavations so far have unearthed more than 1,500 ancient objects. The mummy with the golden tongue was just one of many marvels recently found at Taposiris Magna. Thegoal of Ancient Origins is to highlight recent archaeological discoveries, peer-reviewed academic research and evidence, as well as offering alternative viewpoints and explanations of science, archaeology, mythology, religion and history around the globe. The architectural design of the newly discovered tunnel resembles the magnificentTunnel of Eupalinoson the Greek Island of Samos, which is considered one of the most important engineering achievements of the Classical world. Trending And Reel. Archaeologists have found a tunnel beneath a temple west of Alexandria, Egypt. "If the mausoleum of Cleopatra has not already vanished beneath the waves of the Mediterranean along with most of the Hellenistic city of Alexandria, and is one day found, it would be an almost unprecedented archaeological discovery," said Jane Draycott, a lecturer in classics at the University of Glasgow, on The Conversation this week. Egypt Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. "No other place, structure or temple combines so many conditions as the temple of Taposiris Magna," she said. They said a number of beheaded statues, and statues of the goddess Isis, were also found. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Two of the well-preserved statues recently discovered, believed to represent some of the important individuals buried in the Taposiris Magna temple.

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